Peristaltic syringe filling station

• US 7,703,483 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ACIST Medical Systems Incorporated (Bracco SPA)
• Original Assignee: ACIST Medical Systems Incorporated (Bracco SPA)
• Inventors: Williams, Robert C., Hartman, Steven, Godfrey, Clark, Cross-Hansen, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas; Steven O
• Application Number:
  US10/559,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20080053560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,153 Days
• Field of Search: 141/2, 141/18, 141/21, 141/27, 141/67, 141/98, 604/416
• US Class Current: 141/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a syringe filling station that can fill a syringe with a specified volume of fluid. In one embodiment, the syringe filling station comprises a reservoir attachment, a fluid delivery system, a syringe retaining guide, and a pump to move fluid from a reservoir to a syringe. The fluid delivery system may comprise a sterile consumable cartridge that is insertable into the filling station and defines a fluid pathway from a reservoir to a syringe. The syringe filling station may also include a user interface. An operator can input commands into the user interface to specify the amount of fluid to dispense into the syringe. The user interface may be connected to a processor that controls the rate of pumping and thereby can fill a syringe with a desired amount of fluid. The filling station may also include sensors that detect air in the tubing, depletion of the reservoir, among other things.

Claims

1. A device for delivering a fluid into a syringe comprising:

a) a reservoir attachment for removably receiving a reservoir having a fluid;

b) a syringe retaining guide for releasably securing a syringe;

c) a consumable administration cartridge defining a fluid pathway between a reservoir and a syringe, said administration cartridge comprising a projecting member for inserting into a reservoir, a flexible tubing having a distal end attached to the projecting member, and a canula attached to the proximal end of the flexible tubing, said canula adapted for at least partial insertion into a syringe; and

d) a pump for pumping said fluid from a reservoir through said administration cartridge into a syringe.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the projecting member is in the form of a spike.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said projecting member is vented.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface for operating the device, the interface having input buttons and a display screen.

6. The device according to claim 4, further comprising an air in-line sensor for detecting air in the flexible tubing.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the sensor is in communication with the user interface.

8. The device according to claim 4, wherein an operator can use the input buttons to specific the amount of volume to be dispensed into a syringe.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the consumable delivery system is disposable.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the syringe retaining guide includes a guide sleeve for aligning the syringe with the canula.

11. The device according to claim 10, further comprising a canula mount and canula guide adapted to provide an aseptic interface between said canula and a syringe tip.

12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a remote interface in communication with the pump, whereby said remote interface can control the pump so that the pump moves a specific volume of fluid.

13. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a syringe heater for warming a fluid disposed in the syringe.

14. A syringe filling station comprising:

a reservoir having a fluid medium;

a fluid delivery system having a projecting member inserted into the reservoir, a flexible tubing having a distal end attached to the projecting member, and a canula attached to the proximal end of the flexible tubing;

a syringe having a generally elongated body and a passageway disposed near the discharge region of the syringe, the canula extending into said passageway whereby fluid can be delivered from the reservoir into the syringe;

a pump for pumping the fluid from said reservoir into the syringe; and

a control unit that is operatively connected to the pump, whereby the control unit can control the pump so that a specific volume of fluid is dispensed into the syringe.

15. A syringe filling station according to claim 14, wherein the reservoir is a bottle, pouch, bag, or container.

16. A syringe filling station according to claim 14, wherein the fluid medium is a contrast medium, saline medium, or flushing medium.

17. A syringe filling station according to claim 14, wherein the control unit further includes a processor and a user interface.

18. A syringe filling station according to claim 17, wherein the user interface further comprises a touchscreen.

19. A syringe filling station according to claim 17, wherein the user interface includes command function buttons for operating the filling station.

20. A syringe filling station according to claim 17, wherein the control unit is in communication with a plurality of sensors for monitoring the syringe filling station.

21. A syringe filling station according to claim 20, wherein the sensors include at least one of the following:

an air in-line sensor;

a reservoir depletion sensor;

a new syringe inserted sensor, or a new administration cartridge sensor.

22. A syringe filling station according to claim 14, wherein the control unit can measure the amount of fluid dispensed into the syringe.

23. A syringe filling station according to claim 22, wherein the control unit includes program code adapted to instruct the pump to dispense a specified volume of fluid into the syringe.

24. A syringe filling station according to claim 23, wherein the program code will instruct the pump to cease pumping in the event that a sensor detects air in the fluid delivery system.

25. A syringe filling station according to claim 23, wherein the program code is adapted to instruct the pump to purge air from the fluid delivery system in the event a sensor detects a new fluid delivery system in the syringe filling station.

26. A syringe filling station according to claim 14, further comprising a syringe retaining guide for releasably retaining the syringe in the syringe filling station.

27. A syringe filling station according to claim 26, wherein the syringe retaining guide includes a guide sleeve and a gripping clamp, the guide sleeve adapted for aligning the syringe with the canula, and the gripping clamp adapted for releasably retaining the syringe.

28. A syringe filling station according to claim 14, wherein a gap exists between the canula and the syringe.

29. A syringe filling station according to claim 14, wherein the filling station provides a sterile fluid conduit from the reservoir to the syringe.

30. A syringe filling station according to claim 14, wherein the fluid delivery system is a disposable administration cartridge.

31. A syringe filling station according to claim 14, further including a syringe support shelf disposed below the syringe retaining guide.

32. A syringe filling station according to claim 31, wherein the syringe support shelf is moveable.

33. A syringe filling station according to claim 14, further comprising a printer.

34. A syringe filling station according to claim 31, wherein the printer is adapted to print labels containing Date, Time, Person Filling, Patient Name, Patient ID Number, Medical Name of Fluid Filled in Syringe, Brand Name of Fluid Filled in Syringe, Lot Number of Fluid Filled in Syringe, Volume Filled in Syringe, Warnings, or Cautions, or combinations thereof.

35. A syringe filling station according to claim 14, wherein the filling station is in communication and operatively connected with an external interface adapted for controlling syringe filling station functions.

36. A syringe filling station according to claim 35, wherein the external interface is adapted to input the volume of fluid to dispense in a syringe.